Obituaries

Kenneth Lee Nihart, 92, Austin

Kenneth Lee Nihart, 92 of Austin, died Monday, March 9, 2015, at Our House Assisted Living, Austin. He was born Oct. 30, 1922, in Dover, Minnesota, to Lawrence and Anna (Johnson) Nihart. Kenneth attended Dover schools, and made his living as a farmer and as a laborer at Hormel Foods Corporation...

LaVonne Simonson, 84, Owatonna

LaVonne Mae Simonson, 84, of Owatonna, died Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at Koda Living Community. She was born June 23, 1930, on the family farm in rural Blooming Prairie, the daughter of Alvin and Hilda (Hintz) Eaker. She grew up on the farm with her siblings Elsmer, Audrey and Vivian. She attended...

Barbara A. Peterson, 58, Blooming Prairie

Barbara A. Peterson, 58 of Blooming Prairie, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, at her home. Barbara Ann Gaal was born July 11, 1956, in Austin to Ian and Joyce (Fritze) Gaal. She attended Hayfield schools, graduating from Hayfield High School in 1974. Following high school, Barb attended Rochester...

Helen I. J. Larson, 88, Owatonna,

Helen I. J. Larson, 88, of Owatonna, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Clare Bridge Cottage, Owatonna. Helen was born April 19, 1926, in Aurora Township, the daughter of Carl and Dagney (Prestegard) Selthun. She attended country school. Helen then worked at the bakery in Owatonna and also for a doctor...

Melvin ‘Mel’ J. Ptacek, 81, Owatonna

Melvin “Mel” J. Ptacek, 81, lifelong resident of Owatonna, entered his heavenly home on Feb. 16, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Mel was born on November 28, 1933, the son of Joseph and Irene (Wanous) Ptacek in Somerset Township, rural Steele County. He attended school in Owatonna and...

Leonard Lawrence Kramer, 96, Redwood Falls

Leonard Kramer died Monday, Feb. 9, 2015 at Sunwood Good Samaritan Care Center. He had attained the age of 96 years, nine months and five days. Leonard Lawrence Kramer, the son of Michael and Julia (Pistulka) Kramer, was born May 4, 1918, on the family farm in Vesta Township, Redwood County. He...

Sharon M. Katzung, 70, Owatonna

Sharon M. Katzung, 70, of Owatonna, died Friday, Feb. 13, at Homestead Hospice House. She was born Jan. 12, 1945 in Owatonna, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wanous) Ptacek. She attended rural school district 87 and then graduated from Owatonna High School with the class of 1962. During high...

Alice J. Henry, 96, Owatonna

Alice J. Henry, 96, lifelong resident of Owatonna, entered her heavenly home on Feb. 4, 2015, at the Medford Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, February 9, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Owatonna with Rev. John Sauer presiding. Alice entered this world on June 18, 1918, in...

Dorothy Bauder, 74, Detroit Lakes

Dorothy Bauder, 74, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, died on Sunday, January 25, 2015, in the Cottage at Ecumen, Detroit Lakes. Dorothy was born on November 22, 1940, near Brookings, South Dakota, to Frank and Esther (Johnson) Roth. She grew up in South Dakota, graduating from Egan, South Dakota, High...

Veronica L. (Underwood) Zoller, age 88, Rochester

Veronica L. (Underwood) Zoller, age 88 of Rochester passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester. Veronica Lucille Kvasnicka was born on December 13, 1926, in Owatonna to Joseph and Stella Kvasnicka. She grew up on a farm in Pratt and graduated from Owatonna High...